Jordan Mason: AHS game shows difference between this Rebel team and 2010’s

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Ninety-four yards never seemed as close as it did Friday.

Lee had done what hadn’t been done in two games — force an Abilene High punt — and was 94 yards and a two-point conversion from tying a team that many believe has a shot to go undefeated in 3-5A play.

But the opportunity of a district season went fluttering into the end zone on a failed backward pass that seemed to roll for an enternity before Jake McMillon and his 6-2, 225 pound frame came crashing down on the ball and Lee’s district title hopes for the final score in a 49-34 Abilene High win.

Yet Friday was bigger than the second straight 0-2 hole in district that Lee must now dig itself out of.

“We’ve got to take that next step,” Lee coach James Morton said after the game. “That’s where our program is — we’ve just got to take the next step.”

In consecutive weeks, Lee has gone toe to toe with the only undefeated teams in the district — two teams that may end up being the best in 3-5A.

And as proven the last two weeks in Abilene, Lee isn’t far behind.

The Rebels had a chance to pull within a field goal of Abilene Cooper before a pick-six salted away a 24-17 district-opening win for the Cougars. They were even closer against what many believe is a better Abilene High team.

But Morton isn’t interested in moral victories.

“I’m tired of being close,” a somber Morton said.

The irony in that statement is that Lee wasn’t close at all in this game last year.

The Eagles walked into Grande Communications Stadium last year and gave Lee a school-record 56-point beatdown.

In many ways, it was a sign of how far apart the two programs were on that October night.

Friday was a sign that the gap has closed significantly — and Lee still isn’t happy.

And, really, that’s the biggest difference between the 2010 Rebels and the 2011 Rebels.

Morton said he saw a different attitude in his players following the Cooper loss but said how his team performed against Abilene High was going to determine if it was real.

The Rebels passed the eye test, but not the scoreboard test.

The offense played its most complete game of the season, with Talor Nunez completing the most passes (15) for the most yards (196) since Lee’s season opener against El Paso Montwood.

But the Rebel defense, tops in 3-5A entering the game, had no answer for Paxton Grayer and his 257 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.

Now, every game will be a test for Lee as it fights for its postseason life in its final three games.

The good news for Lee is that all of these games will be played at Grande, where the Rebels are undefeated and winning by an average of 26.7 points per game this season.

But Lee will have to get over the proverbial hump that has caused it to go 1-6 in its last seven district contests.

And that’s fine with Morton.

Because as close as Lee has been in winning its last two district tests, the Rebels are far from where he wants them to be.

The Abilene High game was an opportunity to take the next step in that direction, and Friday’s game against Odessa Permian will be the same.

And for Morton, there’s only one way for Lee to take that step forward.